Nassau Man Threatens Hospital Guard With Taser, Police Say

EAST MEADOW, NY — A Lakeview man was arrested last night for menacing a security guard at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, and brandishing a taser. According to detectives from the Nassau County Police Department, the defendant, Paul Simmons, reportedly became irate after being told no visitors are allowed in the hospital due to the coronavirus outbreak.

At 10:30 p.m. last night the man entered the hospital with his girlfriend who was seeking treatment for a minor injury, according to detectives. A security guard informed him of the new COVID-19 visitor policy and the defendant threatened the guard and waved a taser in his direction. The security guard called police, and officers from the Third Precinct located the defendant and arrested him outside the building.

No injuries were reported.

Simmons, 58, is being charged with second-degree menacing and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. He will be arraigned today in Hempstead.